Inverter and programming device thereof

ABSTRACT

It is possible to easily and rapidly develop an inverter application while maintaining stable quality. Executable code modules which have been sufficiently tested are installed in an inverter. An application source code is created on a programming device by using function blocks corresponding to the executable code modules and connection lines for connecting the function blocks. The source code is complied to create a connection information table for selecting the executable code modules and specifying their execution order. The connection information table is downloaded to the inverter via communication to execute the application.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of an International PatentApplication No. PCT/JP2006/307740, filed on Apr. 12, 2006. Thisapplication claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2005-119659 filed on Apr. 18, 2005. Each of the entiredisclosures of these applications is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inverter capable of easilycustomizing an application portion with a high degree of quality.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

FIG. 11 shows a common structure of an inverter. The inverter 1100 iscomprised of a power portion 1106 for inputting power from acommercially available AC power source 1109 and supplying the power toan electric motor 1110 to drive it, a control portion 1101 forcontrolling the power portion 1106, and a communication interface (I/F)portion 1111 for communicating with an outside device.

The power portion 1106 is comprised of a power source portion 1107configured to input power from the commercially available AC powersource 1109 and supply DC power to a power conversion portion 1108, andthe power conversion portion 1108 configured to control the DC powersupplied from the power portion 1107 and supply power for driving theelectric motor 1110 in accordance with the specification of theoperation.

The control portion 1101 is constituted by a CPU 1102 and an executablecode portion 1103 which stores the executable code to be executed on theCPU 1102. The executable code portion 1103 is constituted of anapplication portion 1104 to be customized according to an applicationand a motor control portion 1105 independent of the application portion1104.

The inverter is connected to a programming device 1120 for developing anapplication portion 1104 via the communication I/F portion 1111 asneeded.

The application portion 1104 is developed by a programming device 1120which is realized on a personal computer, etc., and converted intoexecutable code. The executable code is downloaded to the inverter 1100.

The application portion 1104 is configured to realize an application forthe inverter 1100 and has been conventionally developed by the followingmethod.

Conventionally, in order to maintain stable quality, it was necessary toemploy a method in which development proceeds step by step in accordancewith development regulations; the source code is changed, debugged, andapproved after the design review, and then prepared for sale. It wasnecessary to repeat the steps of changing of the source code, compilingit, downloading the executable code to the inverter 1100 and thendebugging it until all the bugs were resolved. Therefore, there was aproblem that it took too long to complete, resulting in difficulty inproviding flexible support.

Several methods to cope with the aforementioned problem are as follows.

According to one of the methods, the programming device 1120 displays anumber of function blocks, each corresponding to a specific source codemodule residing on the programming device 1120. Based on the connectionof the function blocks, source code corresponding to an application iscreated. The source code is complied on the programming device 1120 tocreate executable code. Then, the executable code is downloaded to theinverter 1100 (see, e.g., Control Techniques Drives, Ltd. User GuideUD70 Large Option Module and software for Unidrive, Part Number:0447-0017, Issue Number: 2)

According to another method, modularized source code for each machinetype, application or function as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 ispreliminarily installed in the inverter 1100, in a manner that thesource code modules are connectable based on connection information.Function blocks corresponding to the modularized source code installedin the inverter 1100 are prepared on the programming device 1120. Byconnection of the function blocks, source code for an application iscreated and the connection information is converted into a combinationof connection parameters to set in the inverter 1100 ((see, e.g., SSDDrives, Inc. Instruction Manual RG352747 Issue 6.1).

The aforementioned “connection parameters” denote a parameterrepresenting a function block connection, which is different from aparameter used by each function block for calculation.

According to the aforementioned first method, the source code for thefunction block is administrated on the programming device 1120.Therefore, there is a possibility of an erroneous revision, acalculation result overflow due to insufficient testing after therevision, or a memory overlap at the time of the download. Thus, thereis a problem in that it lacks reliability.

Furthermore, since the entire executable code corresponding to anapplication is created, it takes time to compile the code and downloadit. Thus, there is a problem in that development is not efficient.

In this regard, according to the aforementioned second method, since theexecutable code for each function block is preliminarily installed inthe inverter 1100, the aforementioned reliability problem is reducedsubstantially. Furthermore, objects to be downloaded are only functionblock connection information, etc. The function block executable codeitself is not an object to be compiled or downloaded. Therefore,although the problem of requiring a finite time for compiling anddownloading has been solved, there still exist the following problems.

All of the function blocks installed in the inverter 1100 are always inan operation state and therefore CPU time is used for irrelevantprocessing to the application, resulting in reduced effective processingtime. Therefore, it is necessary to separately operate the applicationportion 1104 as dedicated software. There also exists a problem that thefunction block for each machine type or application is heavy inprocessing and lacks versatility.

In other words, it is possible to perform the function block connectionand the parameter setting change on the application diagram prepared foreach machine type. A function block diagram used for the other machinetype cannot be used or a new function block cannot be created bycombining function blocks. Furthermore, there also exists a problem thateach function block includes much fixed processing and is therefore notvery versatile.

For example, in application diagram 1 shown in FIG. 12, an applicationfunction block diagram for use in a winder is illustrated. However, thisis a diagram prepared for the machine type A and therefore cannot beused for or applied to the machine type B shown in FIG. 13. In the samemanner, the application diagram 2 shown in FIG. 13 cannot be used forthe machine type A. As explained above, it is impossible to perform amajor change, develop another machine type from a specific applicationonce created or reuse the executable code. Furthermore, the preparedfunction blocks are always operating regardless of the connection statusby the connecting line. Therefore, in the case of the multiplefunctions, the waste of processing time is larger.

As explained above, the conventional technique has such problems thatthe customizable range is limited, the flexibility of developing specialapplications is low, and the executable code process load in the CPU1102 becomes heavy as the number of functions increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, in order to cope with a wide variety ofapplications of an inverter 1100 and the programming device 1120thereof, there are provided an inverter and a programming device of theinverter capable of changing an application portion 1104 in anexecutable code portion 1103 of a control portion 1101 from a standardand easily customizing while maintaining stable quality.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an invertercomprising: a power portion including a power source and a powerconversion portion; a control portion including an executable codeportion having an application portion and a motor control portion and aCPU for executing the executable code; and a communication interfaceportion for communicating with an outside device, connection informationwhich selects an executable code module required for an applicationamong a plurality of executable code modules preliminarily installed inthe inverter and specifies an executable sequence thereof is downloadedto the inverter via the communication interface portion, and theexecutable code module is executed in accordance with the connectioninformation.

According to this inverter, it is only necessary to download aconnection information table 114 selecting the execution mode modulesnecessary for an application among executable code modules preliminarilyinstalled in the inverter 1100 and specifying the execution sequence andnot necessary to download an executable code module itself. Therefore,the development efficiency of an application can be improvedsubstantially. Furthermore, since the executable code module has beenpreliminarily installed in the inverter 1100 only after completion ofsufficient testing, the reliability can be improved substantially.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a programmingdevice of an inverter comprising a power portion including a powersource and a power conversion portion, a control portion including anexecutable code portion having an application portion and a motorcontrol portion and a CPU for executing the executable code, and acommunication interface portion for communicating with an outsidedevice, the source code of an application is created from functionblocks and connection lines connecting the function blocks to createconnection information.

According to this programming device, the source code of an applicationcan be easily created with function blocks corresponding to executablecode modules and connection lines on a screen of the programming device1120, and the connection information table 114 can be created based onit.

In the programming device described above, preferably, the connectioninformation is downloaded to the inverter via the communicationinterface portion.

According to this programming device, the created connection informationtable 114 can be easily downloaded from the programming device 1120 tothe inverter 1100.

In the programming device described above, preferably, the functionblock is a function block corresponding to the executable code modulepreliminarily installed in the inverter, or a function block newlycreated by combining the function block and the connection line.

According to this programming device, a new function block created bycombining existing function blocks can be utilized to create anapplication.

In the programming device described above, preferably, the connectionline has a numeric value or logic value.

According to this programming device, at the time of connecting functionblocks with connection lines, incorrect connection of connection pointsdifferent in type would not occur, which can improve the quality of theconnection information table 114.

In the programming device described above, preferably, it is configuredto display a connected or disconnected status to the inverter on ascreen.

According to this programming device, since the connected ordisconnected status of the programming device 1120 and the inverter 1100is displayed on the screen of the programming device 1120, it ispossible to easily understand whether the connection information can bedownloaded to the inverter 1100.

In the programming device described above, preferably, it is configuredto display the usage rate of the connection information on a screen.

According to this programming device, since the usage rate of theconnection information is displayed on the screen of the programmingdevice 1120, it is possible to easily grasp whether an application canbe further added.

In the programming device described above, preferably, it is configuredto display the processing time usage rate of the application portion ona screen.

According to this programming device, since the processing time usagerate of the application portion 1104 can be displayed on the screen ofthe programming device 1120, it is possible to easily grasp whether theCPU 1102 of the control portion 1101 still has processing capacity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way ofexample, and not limitation, in the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a function block diagram and the processing flow accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a timing chart according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a function block diagram of the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a tab display structure of the function block;

FIG. 5 is a display example of a programming device according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a compile error display in the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an instruction list (IL);

FIG. 8 is a structured text (ST);

FIG. 9 is a ladder diagram (LD);

FIG. 10 is a sequential function chart (SFC);

FIG. 11 shows a general structure of an inverter;

FIG. 12 is an application diagram 1; and

FIG. 13 is an application diagram 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained withreference to the attached drawings.

Embodiment 1

A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. For thepurpose of easy understanding, the following explanation will bedirected to an example of an application in which an analog input 1(101) and an analog input 2 (102) are added with an adder 109 to createa frequency reference 113.

As shown in the upper side of FIG. 1, the source code of an applicationis created using a programming device 1120. In detail, the functionblocks of the analog input 1 (101), an analog input 2 (102), an adder109 and the frequency reference 113 are displayed on a screen of theprogramming device 1120. By connecting them with connection lines,source code is created.

This source code is complied 122, and the executable code module to beexecuted and the information on the execution sequence will be createdas the connection information table 114.

That is, the parameter number in the column of the connection parameterNo. in this connection information table 114 shows the executionsequence. In the column of the connection point number, a uniqueconnection point number owned by each function block is set as the valueof the connection parameter.

In the inverter, since the connection point numbers and the executablecode modules of the function blocks corresponding to the connectionpoint numbers are correlated based on the executable code module table124, the executable code module will be determined by the connectionpoint number.

The executable code of each function block is preliminarily installed inthe inverter and therefore not required to be downloaded again.

The connection information table 114 of this embodiment will beexplained concretely.

To the connection parameter 1 of the input information of the connectionline 1 (105), the output connection point number 01 (103) of the analoginput 1 (101) is set. In the same way, to the connection parameter 2 ofthe output information of the connection line 1 (105), the input 1connection point number 03 (107) of the adder 109 is set. Next, to theconnection parameter 3 of the input information of the connection line 2(106), the output connection point number 02 (104) of the analog inputA2 (102) is set. In the same way, to the connection parameter 4 of theoutput information of the connection line 2 (106), the input terminal 2connection point number 04 (108) of the adder 109 is set. Lastly, to theconnection parameter 5 of the input information of the connection line 3(111), the output connection point number 05 (110) of the adder 109 isset. In the same way, to the connection parameter 6 of the outputinformation of the connection line 3 (111), the input connection pointnumber 06 (112) of the frequency reference 113 is set.

These connection information is downloaded to the inverter 1100 viacommunication 123 such as RS-232C, and set to the JUMP table 115existing in the application portion 1104. The executable code forexecuting the actual processing of the analog input 1 (101), the analoginput 2 (102), the adder 109, and the frequency reference 113 ispreliminarily installed in the application portion 1104 of the inverter1100 in such a manner that it corresponds to the connection pointnumbers. Therefore, the executable code is not required to be newlydownloaded.

The connection information table 114 and the JUMP table 115 are names inthe programming device 1120 and that in the inverter 1100, respectively,which are different in name but the same in content.

Next, the execution of the application portion 1104 in the inverter 1100will be explained.

The execution of the application portion 1104 in the inverter 1100 isexecuted based on the JUMP table 115. The execution is performed in theorder of the connection parameter No. of the JUMP table 115 as shown inthe lower side of FIG. 1.

That is, the executable code module corresponding to the connectionpoint number set to the connection parameter No. of the JUMP table 115is selected by searching the executable code module table 124 and thenexecuted.

The processing corresponding to the connection point number of the JUMPtable 115 will be explained from the top.

A1 (116): In this processing, the data of the analog input 1 functionblock 101 is stored in the data transfer work RAM.

+input 1 (117): The previously stored content of the work RAM is storedin the work RAM of the input 1 of the adder function block 109 connectedto the analog input 1 function block 101.

A2 (118): In this processing, the data of the analog input 2 functionblock 102 is stored in the data transfer work RAM.

+input 2 (119): The previously stored content of the work RAM is storedin the work RAM of the input 2 of the adder function block 109 connectedto the analog input 2 function block 102.

Add 120: In this processing, the added value of the content of the workRAM of the input 1 and input 2 of the adder function block 109 is storedin the data transfer work RAM.

Frequency reference 121: The previously stored contents of the work RAMis stored in the frequency reference block 113. The output of thisfrequency reference 113 is input to the motor control portion 1105 shownin FIG. 1.

As explained above, according to the present invention, it becomespossible to easily realize customization with a high degree of freedomwhile maintaining stable quality.

Embodiment 2

Next, a second embodiment will be explained. The explanation is directedto an example of the creation of a simple patterned operationapplication as shown in FIG. 2.

In order to perform a patterned operation along the operation frequencyshown by the solid line in the time chart shown in FIG. 2, it isrequired to give a frequency reference shown by the broken line of FIG.2 to the motor control portion 1105. In order to create such a frequencyreference, a function block diagram, shown in FIG. 3 as the source codeof the application, is created using the programming device 1120.

S1 (300) denotes a digital input terminal 1 function block of theinverter 1100, INTVL TMR 301 denotes a logic interval timer functionblock, NOT 302 denotes a logic NOT operation function block, AND 303,304 denotes a logic AND operation function block, FwdCMD 305 denotes aforward run command function block for outputting a forward run commandto the motor control portion 1105, RevCMD 306 denotes a reverse runcommand function block for outputting a reverse run command to the motorcontrol portion 1105, Q1-01 (307) denotes a parameter input functionblock 1 for inputting a set value by a constant, Q1-02 (308) denotes aconstant input function block 2 for inputting a set value by aparameter, NUMS 309 denotes a two input numeric value selection functionblock for selecting two numeric inputs, and FreqCMD 300 denotes afrequency reference function block for outputting a frequency referenceto the motor control portion 1105.

These function blocks are prepared, in the Tab 407-411 as shown in FIG.4, as standard visually understandable function blocks which can be usedfor various machine types and applications. The executable codecorresponding to each function block has been preliminarily installed inthe application portion 1104 in the inverter 1100 after being fullytested.

At the time of creating source code on the programming device 1120, thefunction block can be placed at an arbitrary position on the screenprogram page by dragging it from the TAB and dropping it to the desiredposition.

After placing a function block on the screen, it can be connected toanother function block by clicking the connection point portion. Theconnection point is configured such that a mark indicates whether it isa logic or a numeric value. Connection points which are different intype cannot be connected.

Functionally impossible connections will be displayed as an error at thetime of compiling. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when a digital inputterminal 2 function block as a terminal input S2 (601) is added to anexisting page and the compile is performed with the terminal inputconnected to none of the other function blocks, the error contents andthe error number are displayed in the compile result output window 602,and then the compile is terminated. The compile result output window 602is displayed on the screen at the time of the compile initiation.

The information (parameter, name, etc.) of each function block isdisplayed in the property window 504 of FIG. 5, and when the block isclicked the property information can be edited. In the example of FIG.5, the information is displayed in the property 504 of the forwardrotation frequency reference function block, wherein the ID number isset to “8,” the label is set to “forward frequency reference,” and theuser parameter 2 is set to “50.0.”

The source code of the application of this page can be stored as aproject in the folder displayed in the project window 503 shown in FIG.5.

In the same manner, a new subroutine can be created by creating a newpage in the subroutine folder 507 of the project window 503 shown inFIG. 5. The function block diagram created here can be selected and usedas one subroutine function block from the subroutine tab 412 of thefunction block tab window shown in FIG. 4.

As to the capacity limit of the program, there is an upper limit of thenumber of connections, specifically an upper limit of the number oflines of the connection information table 114. In order to notify thestatus of use, the usage rate of the current connection information isdisplayed in the memory usage rate display 509 on the lower portion ofthe screen shown in FIG. 5, with the upper limit as 100%. This displaycan be directly shown as the number of the currently used connectioninformation, the % display or the number of available connections.

To show whether the programming device 1120 and the inverter 1100 cancommunicate, at the right lower portion of the screen of FIG. 5, forexample, their connected/disconnected status 510 can be displayed inblue/red.

As to the processing time usage rate of the of the application portion1104 with respect to the entire available processing time of the CPU1102, a processing time usage rate monitor 511 is displayed at thecentral lower portion of the screen as shown in FIG. 5. In the casewhere the application portion is not connected (off-line) to the mainbody of the inverter 1100, the total of the expected processing time ofthe selected function blocks divided by the total available processingtime by the CPU 1102 is displayed. In the case where the applicationportion is connected (on-line), the actual performance value of theinverter 1100 is read and displayed.

The output connection point of the S1 function block 300 shown in FIG. 3is displayed as the logic output connection point 313. This isconnectable to the logic input terminal 314 as an input of the intervaltimer 301, but not connectable to the numeric value input terminal.

In the same manner, the output of Q1-02 (308) is a numeric value outputconnection point 315 and connectable to the input connection point 316of the 2 numeric value input selector 309 as a numeric input connectionpoint, but not connectable to the logic input connection point.

Next the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be explained.

S1 (300) is an input terminal 1 of the inverter 1100 and a start commandfor patterned operation. When the input terminal is closed, the outputof S1 (300) becomes True “1,” which sets the run command as shown inFIG. 2.

This output signal is input into AND 303, 304 and INTVL TMR 301. Uponthe input, the INTVL TMR 301 is brought into operation and repeatsON/OFF accordingly. This output signal is input into the AND circuit303, 304 together with the output signal of S1 (300), and each of theAND circuit 303, 304 is input into the forward run command 305 and thereverse run command 306. The ON time parameter and the OFF timeparameter can be set and referred to at the property 504 located at theright side of the screen shown in FIG. 5.

Furthermore, the output from the INTVL TMR 301 and the constants 307,308 are each input into the NUMS 309 as forward/reverse run command, andthe output of the NUMS 309 is changed as the forward frequency reference307/reverse frequency reference 308 by the ON/OFF of the output of theINTVL TMR 301 and input into the frequency reference 310 as a finalfrequency reference.

The outputs of the forward run command 305, reverse run command 306 andfrequency reference 310 are input into the motor control portion 1105 ofFIG. 11 to thereby realize the operation as shown by the operationfrequency of FIG. 2.

As mentioned above, the source code of the application is converted intothe connection information on the programming device 1120 and downloadedto the inverter 1100 via the communication interface 1111. As mentionedin Embodiment 1, in the inverter 1100, only the executable codecorresponding to the function blocks selected by the connectioninformation will be executed, and the application shown by the functionblock diagram on the screen of the programming device 1120 is executed.As explained above, the executable code of the application portion isexecuted only when selected, and therefore the wasted processing time ofCPU 1102 can be reduced.

In creating the source code of an application, not only theaforementioned function block diagram (FBD: function block diagram) butalso the IL: instruction list as shown in FIG. 7, the SL: structuredtext as shown in FIG. 8, the LD: ladder diagram as shown in FIG. 9, andthe SFC: sequential function chart as shown in FIG. 10, etc., can beused.

In the case of FIG. 7, the IL is created with a text editor andprocessed with a compiler for converting the IL into connectioninformation to create a connection information table 114 as shown inFIG. 1.

In the case of FIG. 8, the ST is created with a text editor andprocessed with a compiler for converting the ST into connectioninformation to create a connection information table 114 as shown inFIG. 1.

In the case of FIG. 9, the LD is created with a ladder editor andprocessed with a compiler for converting the LD into connectioninformation to create a connection information table 114 as shown inFIG. 1.

In the case of FIG. 10, the SFC is created with a SFC editor andprocessed with a compiler for converting the SFC into connectioninformation to create a connection information table 114 as shown inFIG. 1.

After creation, the connection information table 114 is downloaded tothe inverter and executed in the same manner as in the case of FBD.

As explained above, according to the present invention, it becomespossible to realize easy development of high quality application whichwas conventionally not possible.

The present invention provides an inverter and programming devicecapable of easily being applied to various types of inverter industrialapplications while maintaining high quality.

While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, anumber of illustrative embodiments are described herein with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered asproviding examples of the principles of the invention and such examplesare not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodimentsdescribed herein and/or illustrated herein.

While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been describedherein, the present invention is not limited to the various preferredembodiments described herein, but includes any and all embodimentshaving equivalent elements, modifications, omissions, combinations(e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/oralterations as would be appreciated by those in the art based on thepresent disclosure. The limitations in the claims are to be interpretedbroadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited toexamples described in the present specification or during theprosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed asnon-exclusive. For example, in the present disclosure, the term“preferably” is non-exclusive and means “preferably, but not limitedto.” In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application,means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations will only beemployed where for a specific claim limitation all of the followingconditions are present in that limitation: a) “means for” or “step for”is expressly recited; b) a corresponding function is expressly recited;and c) structure, material or acts that support that structure are notrecited. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of thisapplication, the terminology “present invention” or “invention” may beused as a reference to one or more aspect within the present disclosure.The language present invention or invention should not be improperlyinterpreted as an identification of criticality, should not beimproperly interpreted as applying across all aspects or embodiments(i.e., it should be understood that the present invention has a numberof aspects and embodiments), and should not be improperly interpreted aslimiting the scope of the application or claims. In this disclosure andduring the prosecution of this application, the terminology “embodiment”can be used to describe any aspect, feature, process or step, anycombination thereof, and/or any portion thereof, etc. In some examples,various embodiments may include overlapping features. In this disclosureand during the prosecution of this case, the following abbreviatedterminology may be employed: “e.g.” which means “for example;” and “NB”which means “note well.”

1. An inverter, comprising: a power portion including a power source anda power conversion portion; a control portion including an executablecode portion having an application portion and a motor control portionand a CPU for executing the executable code; and a communicationinterface portion for communicating with an outside device, whereinconnection information which selects an executable code module requiredfor an application among a number of executable code modulespreliminarily installed in the inverter, specifies an execution sequencethereof and is downloaded to the inverter via the communicationinterface portion, and wherein the executable code module is executed inaccordance with the connection information.
 2. A programming device ofan inverter comprising a power portion including a power source and apower conversion portion, a control portion including an executable codeportion having an application portion and a motor control portion and aCPU for executing the executable code, and a communication interfaceportion for communicating with an outside device, wherein a source codeof an application is created from function blocks and connection linesconnecting the function blocks to create connection information.
 3. Theprogramming device as recited in claim 2, wherein the connectioninformation is downloaded to the inverter via the communicationinterface portion.
 4. The programming device as recited in claim 2,wherein the function block is a function block corresponding to theexecutable code module preliminarily installed in the inverter, or afunction block newly crated by combining the function block and theconnection line.
 5. The programming device as recited in claim 2,wherein the connection line has a numeric value or logic value.
 6. Theprogramming device as recited in claim 2, wherein the programming deviceconfigured to display a connected or disconnected status to the inverteron a screen.
 7. The programming device as recited in claim 2, whereinthe programming device configured to display a usage rate of theconnection information on a screen.
 8. The programming device as recitedin claim 2, wherein the programming device is configured to display aprocessing time usage rate of the application portion on a screen.